The culmination of months of simmering tensions between two figures who rode a wave of immense popular hope to power in April 2024, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially parted ways with his Prime Minister and former political ally, Ousmane Sonko. The announcement came on Friday, May 22, through a statement read on national television by the presidency’s secretary-general. The declaration confirmed that President Faye had “terminated the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.”

The statement further specified that “members of the outgoing government are tasked with handling current affairs.” As of now, no details have been provided regarding the appointment of a new Prime Minister for Senegal.

Since President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s election, the dynamic between him and his former mentor, the charismatic Prime Minister, had become increasingly strained. Sonko’s considerable influence was a key factor in propelling their political duo into leadership. A vocal opponent of former President Macky Sall (who served from 2012-2024), Ousmane Sonko was ultimately barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election himself due to a defamation conviction that resulted in the loss of his civic rights. It was then that he strategically designated Bassirou Diomaye Faye to run in his stead.

However, cracks in their alliance became publicly apparent in early May when President Faye openly criticized his Prime Minister’s “excessive personalization” within the ruling party. During a televised interview, Faye had explicitly stated, “As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he benefits from my trust. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister.” Responding swiftly to his dismissal on Friday, Ousmane Sonko posted on his Facebook account, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” referencing his residence in Dakar.